Another Pay Question!

Memphis can range from 17-19.00 for new RN + shift differentials * I lived there*

Nashville if can get them to call back 17-18 new RN + shift differentials

Knoxville no comment

I have been hearing 19-20 base memphis, around 18 nashville & jackson, around 16.50-17 knoxville. I also hear around 16-17 for johnson city so I'm guessing Greenville would probably be in that same 17ish range. Unfortunately COL is higher in East TN yet pay hasn't kept up

I know it doesn't sound like big bucks. But you have to take in the low cost of living. There is a thread on the news section here at allnurses that shows a study done with COL factored in. TN was overall #32 in pay, BUT when you factor in the COL it moved all the way up to #7. I can make $20/hr in Memphis + shift diffs.. a new nurse can actually make close to $30 working nights/weekends. If you can get on a Baylor program exclusively weekend you can make 40-45/hr.
Now I live about 80 miles outside Memphis and I can buy a 3br for like 60-70k. For 200,000 I can buy a very nice house with lots of acreage. Wooded land runs 2-3k acre...
Now I've thought about moving to someplace like NC and nursing pay is very similar, yet housing is much higher. I have looked at lots of other states and I think my money will go much further towards a good quality of living around here. Of course my personal goal is to have a nice house and land. If you say wanted to rent an apt and do lots of fun city stuff then it might pay off to move to a higher col area...
But anyway I thought that study was pretty interesting. I mean yea in Cali you might make $50/hr but what would cost like 200k here would cost 800k there or more.
Of course as I said COL is much higher in East TN and wages are lower... so the $ go further over here in West TN...
What area do you live in now?

Hello,
I would love to hear more about areas where housing is so inexpensive
Thank you,
Erin

My sister in law's home in Jackson, TN didn't cost a lot more than mine here in SW Ohio. I have a 2,150 sq.ft. bi-level on 1/2 acre. She has a 3,000+ sq. ft. 2 story with an inground pool, pool house on about 5 acres. Base pay sounds like it's also higher down there....

Rumor has it Jackson base pay is going up to 19.xx/hr for new grads. I may have to reconsider my hesitation to work in Jackson as it's a heck of a lot closer than Memphis..if pay is the same... just gotta find a good floor as a lot of them have very bad turnover.

I don't remember which hospital my SIL works in but she does a Baylor type deal and loves it. It works out great for a single mom too.

All of the floors in Jackson have a high turnover. Stay away from 8W, 8N, and 10N (has to deal with floor management). 5N is a busy floor if you like to work.